French Legislation In English

Search, Read and Apply French Law. In English.

20+ full codes, 2,400+ articles translated and updated. Case law linked to every article. Read the actual text before you ask a lawyer about it — free, no login required.

Try: L.227-1 SAS governance, L.145-9 bail commercial renewal, L.223-18 gérant removal SARL

20+

french codes

Fully translated

2,400+

articles in English

Updated regularly

480+

court rulings linked

Per article

Free

full access

No login required

Showing 15311540 of 17962 articles for Art. 5 avr. 2011

French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force
Section 3: Powers of the public prosecutor

Article 40-5

In the event of a person's escape, the public prosecutor shall immediately inform the victim of the acts that led to the detention or the victim's family of the escape, if the escape is likely to put…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force
Section 1: General provisions

Article 15-5

Only staff specially and individually authorised for this purpose may consult data processing systems during an investigation or enquiry. This special and individual authorisation may be verified at a…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force
Section 3: Powers of the public prosecutor

Article 41-5

When, in the course of the investigation, it proves impossible to return seized movable property whose retention is no longer necessary to establish the truth, either because the owner cannot be ident…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force
Chapter I: Flagrant crimes and offences

Article 56-2

…on is brought to the attention of the person present at the start of the search pursuant to Article 57. Only the magistrate and the person present pursuant to article 57 have the right to examine the…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force
Chapter I: Flagrant crimes and offences

Article 56-3

Searching the offices of a doctor, notary or bailiff shall be carried out by a magistrate and in the presence of the person in charge of the professional order or organisation to which the person conc…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force
Chapter III: The Examining Magistrate

Article 52-1

…e appointed, taking into account any specialisations provided for by articles 704,706-2,706-17,706-75-1 and 706-107, to coordinate the work of the investigating judges within the division, in accordan…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force
Chapter I: Flagrant crimes and offences

Article 63-5

Custody in police custody must be carried out in conditions that ensure respect for the dignity of the person. Only strictly necessary security measures may be imposed on the person in police custody.

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force
Chapter I: Flagrant crimes and offences

Article 56-4

I.-When a search is envisaged in a specifically identified place containing items covered by national defence secrecy, the search may only be carried out by a magistrate in the presence of the Chairma…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force
Chapter I: Flagrant crimes and offences

Article 55-1

…aphs ordered by the judicial police officer is punishable by one year's imprisonment and a fine of 15,000 euros.Without prejudice to the application of the penultimate paragraph, when the taking of fi…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force
Subsection 1: Transport, searches and seizures

Article 99-5

For the purposes of executing the letter rogatory, the judicial police officer or, under the latter's supervision, the judicial police agent or investigation assistant may, with the express authorisat…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
Common Questions

French legislation in English — Q&A

Our translations are produced and reviewed for accuracy, but the only legally binding version of French law is the French original. For court, registry or contractual use we offer lawyer-reviewed or sworn certified translations on request.

Articles are synced with Légifrance and updated as soon as a reform is published in the Journal Officiel, so you always read the version in force — and can see when each article was last amended.

Each article is linked to the key court decisions (Cour de cassation, Conseil d'État, courts of appeal) that interpret it, so you can read the text and its case-law application side by side.

Yes — every article has an AI plain-English summary, and you can order a lawyer-reviewed explanation of how it applies to your specific situation, with next steps.

No. Reading and searching the codes is free with no login. Paid services — certified translation and the legal application report — are entirely optional.

Mariela Petrova

Mariela Petrova

Avocate au Barreau de Paris

Toque #C2396

15+ Years In French Corporate Practice

English · French · Russian

Ready When You Are

Talk To A Lawyer
In France.

A 20–30 minute call, in English, to scope the engagement. No obligation, no preliminary fee. You will leave the call with a clear view of what the work will cover and what it will cost.

First EngagementFixed Fee

Talk to a French lawyer.

Reply within 24 hours.

Communications protected by professional secrecy — secret professionnel de l'avocat, Article 66-5 of the Law of 31 December 1971.

Continue

Related legal services

01 / Read

Browse the French codes

20+ full codes and 2,400+ articles in English, with the key court rulings linked to every article — free to read.

Read More
02 / Apply

Legal application report

A lawyer-reviewed report explaining how the relevant articles apply to your situation, with case-law analysis and next steps.

Read More
03 / Act

Talk to a French lawyer

Scope your matter with a Paris-Bar avocate — incorporation, contracts, disputes — handled bilingually, end to end.

Read More
Search “Art. 5 avr. 2011” | French Legislation